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Homes England - Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) for site at Wychavon

Homes England (the name adopted by the Homes and Communities Agency)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Aug 2026 at 09:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Homes England intends to procure an independent distribution network operator (IDNO) for Wychavon New Town in Wychavon District. The work covers the assessment, planning, design, delivery, ownership and maintenance of reliable utility infrastructure for a strategic masterplanned development. The new town is planned to include around 10,000 homes, up to five primary schools, at least one secondary school, early years provision, employment land, business space, local centres, parks, open space and active travel routes. The procurement is primarily infrastructure works, including electrical installation and associated works for pipelines and cables. The IDNO will support electricity infrastructure serving the development and its residential, educational, commercial, community and green infrastructure uses.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Homes England has expressed an intention to procure and has not issued an invitation to tender. The buyer expects a future notice on 19 October 2026, although all dates and costs are indicative and may change. Planned market engagement uses a short questionnaire, with responses expected by 27 August 2026 at 13:00. The estimated value is £25 million excluding VAT, or £30 million including VAT. The planned contract is expected to run from 29 March 2027 to 25 March 2030, with a possible extension to 29 March 2032. There is one planned lot, considered suitable for SMEs, and renewal is envisaged.

The work is aimed at registered providers with an active Independent Distribution Network Operator licence issued by Ofgem. Suppliers will need to be able to assess, plan, design, deliver, own and maintain reliable utility infrastructure for a large, phased new-town development. Relevant organisations are likely to include licensed electricity network operators and infrastructure providers with experience of supporting residential-led developments alongside schools, employment areas, retail and community facilities. The scale and mixed-use nature of Wychavon New Town will suit businesses able to coordinate network infrastructure across multiple neighbourhoods and development uses, and to provide dependable long-term ownership and maintenance. Smaller businesses may be able to participate because the planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Homes England - Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) for site at Wychavon

Notice Description

Wychavon New Town is being advanced as a strategic, masterplanned development of significant scale within Wychavon District, with current proposals centred on delivering around 10,000 new homes alongside a substantial range of supporting uses. The scheme is planned to include a series of neighbourhoods supported by up to five primary schools and at least one secondary school, as well as early years provision. In addition to residential development, the new town is expected to provide a strong commercial and employment offer, including dedicated employment land, business space, and local centres incorporating retail, food and drink, and community services. Green infrastructure is a core component, with extensive open space, parks, and active travel routes integrated throughout the development. To achieve this, Homes England requires the assessment, planning, design, delivery, ownership and maintenance of reliable utility infrastructure that meets the needs of the new town. This opportunity will only be suitable for registered providers who hold an active IDNO license issued by OFGEM. Please refer to procontract for further details contained within the questionnaire. There is no previous pipeline notice for this opportunity as detail around who the Contracting Authority (CA) would be was unknown, this is now agreed and the CA is Homes England. All dates and costs within this notice are indicative and can be subject to change.

Planning Information

This engagement has been published to gather information from the market and to understand the interest in this opportunity, helping to inform our procurement decisions. There is a short questionnaire to submit via the eTendering system and the direct link to this can be accessed here https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=be65403a-9295-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromRfxSummary=True&rfxId=1636dd1c-9395-f111-813c-005056b64545 Deadline is Thursday 27th August 2026 at 13:00pm.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e634
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078386-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45232000 - Ancillary works for pipelines and cables

45310000 - Electrical installation work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£25,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Mar 2027 - 25 Mar 2030 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Homes England (the name adopted by the Homes and Communities Agency)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE4 5BZ
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Arthur's Hill
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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